High points for TM

[Bogart]

Yesterday Rebecca and I took a trip to Taum Sauk Mountain. We did this high point in tribute to David Worthington (Talus Monkey) who passed away earlier this month on Humboldt Peak in Colorado. One of his goals was to stand on top of all 50 high points in the United States. With help from his friends his name will be registered at each high point.

We got a late start and did not leave Springfield until about 8:30 am. It is about a 200 mile trip from Springfield so we did not get there until about 11:30 AM. Upon arriving we gathered our gear and made the grueling 950 foot walk up the paved path to the highest point in Missouri, Taum Sauk Mountain 1,772 feet above sea level. We snapped a few photos then left a little memorial for David. We filled out a registration card in his name and left a Mountain Dew, “the nectar of the gods,” in the registration box. This was a little emotional for me as I have detailed in previous posts.

After Taum Sauk Mountain, Rebecca and I decided to take the three mile hike to Mina Sauk falls. The trail is mostly a class I hike with a few sections of class II. The hike was relatively uneventful with the exception of meeting a 70 year old man. This gentleman is a retired history professor from Northern California. He is on a mission to visit all of the places he taught about. He said he plans on celebration his birthday this year on top of Mount Whitney. He was pretty inspiring. When we got to the waterfall I proceeded to climb around on some of the cliffs in the area and pretty much act like an 8th grader. The Falls area is beautiful and another example of God’s work and how he is continually revealing himself to us through nature. The hike out was straightforward. I felt really strong on the way out and really kicked it into gear. When I say I felt good it was the best I have felt on a hike since my leg was amputated. Rebecca told me later that she had a hard time keeping up.

Overall, It was a great day with beautiful weather. I know Talus Monkey was looking down from his high point. This one was for you TM.

I do not know how to post pictures on here so if you want to see them they are at http://web.mac.com/chad_butrick

[Aubrey]

So...who is climbing Denali this year?

i'm your huckleberry! could you do me one small favor and fund the trip please? not really asking much

jamie

Hey Jamie, I can design a sticker for you, which you can sell to fund your trip. Of course, you'd have to sell 10,000 of them, but it's an idea.

How 'bout a pic of you in a snow cave with a bulging toe?

Hell, someone's gotta do Denali for TM.

[Aubrey]

Thanks, Bogart.


Say, just wondering, is anyone keeping track of all this?

[Bogart]

Like you said I think it would good to keep track of all of this in the newly formed talusmonkey.com. I am not sure how it would work but there are a lot of smart peopl on here that could figure out a way to track it. Let me know if I can help.

[shanahan96]

So...who is climbing Denali this year?

i'm your huckleberry! could you do me one small favor and fund the trip please? not really asking much

jamie

Hey Jamie, I can design a sticker for you, which you can sell to fund your trip. Of course, you'd have to sell 10,000 of them, but it's an idea.

How 'bout a pic of you in a snow cave with a bulging toe?

Hell, someone's gotta do Denali for TM.

ah, the toe and the snow cave. what an interesting idea! those had to be two of the most interesting weekends to kick off march.

unfortunately, i have serious doubts in some of my gear for denali-like conditions! any ideas for funding our ecuador trip next year?

jamie

[Aubrey]

ah, the toe and the snow cave. what an interesting idea! those had to be two of the most interesting weekends to kick off march.

unfortunately, i have serious doubts in some of my gear for denali-like conditions! any ideas for funding our ecuador trip next year?

jamie

Ecuador! Cool. Jen and I have been talking about going to the Galapagos Islands for a couple years now. Adding something like Cotopaxi might just be the icing on the cake. Perhaps we'll make it happen sometime between this Christmas and a few years from now.

any ideas for funding...?

Have you entered the 14ers.com raffle yet? It's getting up there.

[shanahan96]

ah, the toe and the snow cave. what an interesting idea! those had to be two of the most interesting weekends to kick off march.

unfortunately, i have serious doubts in some of my gear for denali-like conditions! any ideas for funding our ecuador trip next year?

jamie

Ecuador! Cool. Jen and I have been talking about going to the Galapagos Islands for a couple years now. Adding something like Cotopaxi might just be the icing on the cake. Perhaps we'll make it happen sometime between this Christmas and a few years from now.

any ideas for funding...?

Have you entered the 14ers.com raffle yet? It's getting up there.

always been a late comer to that party....but i'll make it before the clock strikes midnight.

jamie

[CODave]

Thanks, Bogart.

Say, just wondering, is anyone keeping track of all this?

I plan to have a section on talusmonkey.com to track this.

[PatsSox09]

Epic Jerimoth Hill Trip Report - 5/20/07


On my way back from a drunken camping trip in Western Mass this weekend I took a little detour to climb the mighty slopes of Jerimoth Hill via the dangerous West Ridge (Rhode Island/Conn Rt. 101)

The steep route to the summit:



After five STRENUOUS feet of elevation gain you reach the summit area. The register is in this mailbox:




The actual summit of Jerimoth is on a rock pile that is considered by many to be the crux of the route. Many a hardened mountaineer have compared this precarious and highly explosed summit to the summit block of Sunlight Peak in Colorado:



TalusMonkey and MountainDew on the register. This rockpile contains some of the best, and possibly only, alpine environments in the state of Rhode Island:



I was winded from the thin air of the summit area; at 812 feet, Jerimoth has only 99.99999999999999% of the oxygen at sea level. Neverless, I quickly made the steep descent back to my car. The views on 101 towards Connecticut were "breathtaking", most likely due to the "severe" lack of oxygen. (Warning: Do not view the following pictures if you have even the mildest fear of heights or vertigo)

[BillMiddlebrook]

Western Mass. and you didn't get Mt. Greylock (3,491')?

I use to live at the base of the mountain. Map

[Jeff_F]

Awesome trip report!

[del_sur]

Today, I put the name "Talus Monkey" alongside my own on the summit register of Humphrey's Peak, 12633ft, Arizona's highest.
David had been there on 11/19/06, and I referenced his entry for those who wondered who this monkey guy is.
I did my best to honor my memory of David's hiking--I went as fast as possible, with only two 30-second breaks in the first four miles (2700 ft).

[PatsSox09]

We were camping in Beartown State Forest near Great Barrington, closer to Frissell, actually. Where did you live near Greylock? I've been to the summit before (via car), the area is beautiful and I plan on hiking it in a few weeks. Didn't do it this past weekend becuase I doubt that I would have had any luck convincing my buddies to climb any mountain.

del_sur, congrats on reaching Humphreys. I used to live in Flagstaff, still harbor great memories about that place. Just curious, how long did the round trip take you?

[gsliva]

This is really cool. TM is laughing in heaven right now. And of course amazed at the attention he is getting. Very nice post.

[TalusMonkeys sister]

Thank you all so much for continuing these tributes to David. We're overcome with gratitude and appreciation. Thank you all.